The Opelousas courier., 1887-09-17
PETS OF FASHION.
Equine and Canine Favorites Of
Washington Ladies.
Talk With a Veterinary Surgeon
About Dogs and Horses.

legend which induced a WASH
ingtor Star reporter to pay a visit, a fey
days ago, to the house ON which it wa
displayed, the establishment of a veteri
nary surgeon, in the northwestern section
of the city. The doctor proved to b
communicative, and soon gave his Gale
several points on the ills and pills o
pets.
! 'My practice is not confined to tn,
treatment of domestic pets,n he ex
planned, ''for my Legitimate line j
horses. But I have called attention tt
this speciality merely to let the public
know that | have not overlooked thu
needs of some important adjuncts of fash,
ion. In this line | have most to do with
dogs and ponies; cats do not seem to
need my services, or if they do their
owners do not think so. As a rule my
patrons are of the wealthy classes, some
OF whom are ~passionately fond of their
pets, and would rather sacrifice small
fortunes than lose them. The small po-
MES especially the Shetlands) are often
the objects of the most lavish affection.
l treat the animals at the homes of their
owners, making regular calls, just the same
as the physician does for relief of human
ills. AT times l have had odd experiences
with the brutes, finding it often a hard job
to make them take their medicines; but
regular physicians have the same trouble
sometimes with their patients.
'The ~favorite dog at present? Well, 1
think that the setter is growing in popu-
larity. The Gordon and Irish settlers of
good breed will bring fancy prices now,
not from the hunter, but from the ladies
of society. Yes, the pug has lost his
grip. Every dog has his day, you know,
and the pug has had his, There seems
to be a tendency now toward the grow
ing popularity. of large animals instead
of smaller specimens"
"Have you ever run across any cases
of hydrophobia in your experience, doc
tor2"
"Oh, yes; I have been often called in
to cure dogs suffering from that disease;
but services were of course of no value.
The only remedy for a mad dog is a bull
let. Although NJ. Pasteur claims to
effect a cure of persons who have been
bitten, l doubt if he would undertake
the treatment of a rabid dog. l think
he would draw the line at that
point. There are some features about
mysterious disease which are misun-
derstood by people generally. In the
place, notwithstanding the belief, or
the adea, that the so-called dog
days. of the summer months are the most
productive of hydrophobia, statistics and
my experience tend to show that a ma
jority of the cases of rabies occur during
the months of October and November. |
Then, too, dogs are often shot because
are supposed to be suffering from
this disease, when in reality they are
troubled with nothing more serious than
neuralgia of the mouth, what we call
humans toothache, which, exciting the
glands gives the dog the ap-
1%earancaa. ef-the dreaded frothing as seen
n hydrophobia. Then the dog, being
,arrassed and driven around, he soon
looks as though he were mad. As
have said, in a great many cases the
neuralgia is mistaken for the other dis
,ase.
s'ln my regular practice" he went on
a pause, sthat is in my veterinary
.areer, I have treated some very fine
This city contains a number of
;ood stables, owned by those ~itinerant
antilles who fit away from the asphalt
With the first warm wave. They transport
heir horses tosthe seaside or the noun
aims and keep them here only during the
SCaoVus AS III lue case OF
logs there is a tendency toward a certain
of animals, and so in the stables
ave seen evidences of a decided prefer
nee for good, solid, handsome coach
lorses, rather than fancy breeds, or sad
lie horses.n
Getting back to dogs" he said, IA
ase has just come to my mind of a lady,
noving in the highest circles, who drove
here one day in a handsome carriage.
nd sent for me to come to the curb. She
Tas pale and trembling, and seemingly
iborlng under intense excitement. "Get
., doctor, quick, and come with me at
Oh! | am so afraid that he will die.
cor little dear! Come, hurry, please;
" darling will die while you watt Di-
ming what she meant, Invent to the house
ndfound the darling tobean ugly pug,
Altering from an overdose of raw beef.
soon brought him round, and when I
lrned to go confronted the fair owner,
with tears in her eyes, blessed me
saving the life of the dearest, sweet
It dog in Washington